Airbus BizLab has launched the #Africa4Future challenge, targeting Southern African startups with innovative ideas that will help define the aerospace business of the future.

The Airbus Bizlab is a global aerospace accelerator bringing together start-ups and Airbus’ own entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into valuable businesses more quickly. With the BizLab Airbus aims to accelerate the pace at which it can commercialise innovative ideas drawn from within Airbus and outside, including from customers and other external partners.

To achieve this, Airbus BizLab is establishing a network of Business Accelerators to provide support to startups and turn these ideas and technologies into commercial reality. The Airbus BizLab #Africa4Future programme is in partnership with the Silicon Cape Initiative.

“We are excited to finally bring this programme to Southern Africa. We have been impressed by some of the innovations coming out of hubs and university research labs within the region also empowered by the Silicon Cape Initiative. We are looking forward to receiving inspiring ideas and concepts at our specially-convened Pitch Day in Cape Town on 22 September,” said Bruno Gutierres, Head of the Airbus BizLabs.

Through programmes such as the #Africa4Future, Airbus provides early-stage projects with wide-ranging support, in the form of a six-month “accelerator programme” that gives startups access to a large number of coaches, experts and mentors in various domains: technology, legal, finance, marketing & communication; easing prototyping and market access.

The winning startup, selected from the final pitch event that will be held on the 22nd of September 2017 in Cape Town, will win a fully-paid 10-day-trip to Europe in Oct/Nov 2017 and get the chance to meet and interact with aerospace experts and boost their startup. They will be able to work on solutions and, depending on the project‘s success, partner with Airbus BizLab to see it through to product stage.

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